Sanitary underground discharge for a well water system



V. L. ANDREW Get. 9, 1956 SANITARY UNDERGROUND DISCHARGE FOR A WELL WATER SYSTEM Filed 00%,. 51, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l VAUGHAN L'. ANDREW ff BY AGENT V. L. ANDREW Get. 9, 1956 SANITARY UNDERGROUND DISCHARGE FOR A WELL WATER SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 51, 1952 INVENTOR. VAUGHAN L. ANDREW AGENT SANITARY UNDERGRUUND DISCHARGE FOR A WELL WATER SYSTEM Vaughan L. Andrew, Superior, Wis.

Application ()ctoher 31, 1952, Serial No. 317,988

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-375) This invention relates to shallow well water systems and has special reference to such systems wherein an underground discharge of water is provided from the well casing.

It is well known that in these well water systems it has been common practice to employ a pit to terminate a Well below the frost line and to permit access to the parts of the Well casing and discharge for servicing purposes at a point below the frost line to prevent the freezing of the water in the system. However these pits were proven unsanitary and impractical. My U. S. Patent No. 2,230,856 discloses a pump water system in which the pit is eliminated yet a lateral discharge for the water is provided at any desired point below the frost line, and servicing of the water system parts is simple and easy as well as convenient. This said patent has to do principally with a well system wherein the lateral discharge line is always a pressure line.

Pitless shallow well water systems having a pump offset from and connected to the well casing, are subject to delivering contaminated water at their ultimate discharge point because the underground delivery line of the system is a so-called suction line, and that is, water is drawn through the line by a source of power at the discharge end of the line or what we will call the forward end of the line. A pressure line is one where water is forced through the line from the rear or intake end of the line toward the forward end.

It is deemed apparent that there is a considerable difference between the above described suction line and pressure line. For example, if a leak develops in a pressure line, water is forced out of the leak because of the pressure or force at the rear of the line which is constantly pressing the water away from the rear of the line under pressure. Nothing can therefor get into the pressure line to contaminate the well or water.

In the case of a suction line, however, the force pulling or moving the Water in the line is at the front end of the line and is striving to pull all of the water toward itself and if a leak occurs in such a line, there is a force exerted at the leak tending to pull, Whatever will come, into the line. Contamination of the water in the line can readily occur in the event of a leak in a so-called suction line, for contaminated water or other material may be drawn into the line through the leak.

Thus, it may be seen, that even a pitless well water system may not be sanitary if a suction line forming a part of the system is exposed where it can contact or be contacted by external matter which might be contaminated. For example, surface water may readily seep through the soil and contact the suction pipe of a water system.

In my U. S. application for patent Ser. No. 94,211 filed May 19, 1949, now Patent No. 2,623,467 of December 30, 1952, i have disclosed a means for protecting from contamination the suction or delivery line of well water system wherein two lines, a pressure and a delivery line, are connected to and between a pump and a well casing.

2,765,8d7 l atented Oct. 9, 1956 One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a method and means for the protection of a suction line in a well water system in which only one line, the suction line of the pump, is normally connected to the well casing, as in a shallow well pump system, whereby the water delivered from the pump will not be contaminated by anything entering the water during its travel between the casing and the pump through the suction or delivery line.

Another more specific object is to provide a water tight chamber in which the suction line is carried or housed between the Well casing and at least the point where it is improbable that the suction line might contact contaminating elements. For one example, one would not expect the suction line to contact contaminating elements once it was brought above ground level or beyond normal flood or high water levels.

Another object is to pressurize the chamber surrounding the suction line, preferably with clean sanitary water obtained from the Well system itself and forced into the chamber under pressure and maintained under pressure.

Another object is to provide suitable means including piping and connections to accomplish the above pressurizing of the chamber.

Another object is to provide the above in as inexpensive and simple a manner as possible.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevational view illustrating a well system installed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a well casing showing the connection of delivery or suction line to the casing and the connection of the protective housing to the casing.

Fig. 3 is a broken fragmental view illustrating the adapter for bringing the suction line out of the housing.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a modified connection for the pressure line to the pump, but omitting the showing of the Well casing and lateral connection thereto which would be the same as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical sectional view showing a modified form for attaching the pipes to the casing.

In the drawing the reference numeral 1 indicates a well casing, 2 indicates a lateral discharge fitting I have provided which connects between two sections of common well casing and forms a part of the casing as is deemed apparent. The fitting 2 has a bore 3 therethrough in axial alinement with the bore of the casing, and preferably, the bore is uninterrupted to permit convenient servicing of the well parts. The fitting 2 is preferably joined with the casing sections by threading, as shown.

The fitting 2 is preferably cast and has an opening 0 through a side wall surrounded by a boss 4 which is threaded either on the inside or the outside to receive a section of pipe 5 which forms a part of the suction or delivery line A of the water system. The pipe 5 of delivery line A usually extends from the casing at substantially right angles to the axis of the casing, as shown. The fitting 2 and boss 4 provide for convenience in installing the well parts, as is deemed apparent, for it would be diflicult and inconvenient to attach or connect the pipe 5 directly to the casing when the latter is in place in the earth.

The pipe 5 is of any required length to reach to the desired location of the pump 6, usually in a heated building such as a home, not shown, and a right angle turn may be provided as shown at 7 to bring the pipe 5 up above ground level within the building Where it is connected to the suction or delivery line connection 8 on the pump.

The pump has a pressure line 9 connected thereto at the connection 10 of the pump. The pressure line leads to and is connected with an adjacent pressure tank 11, common to well systems whereby the pump may force water into the pressure tank for storage purposes. A service line 12 leads from the pressure tank to connect with the plumbing system of the building, home or the like.

To protect the delivery line 5 throughout the length thereof which i below ground level, I have provided a second boss or connection 14 on the fitting member 2 of the casing 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The connection 14 is larger than and surrounds the boss or connection 4 on the member 2, as may readily be seen in Fig. 1, however, the connections 4 and 14 may be formed on a single boss as shown in Fig. 5. The connection 14 is threaded to receive a pipe 15 which surrounds the delivery pipe 5. In other words, the delivery pipe 5 is carried within the pipe 15 and the latter forms a housing for the pipe 5 whereby a chamber 16 is provided between the pipes 5 and 15.

The pipe 15 encloses the pipe 5 throughout its portions which are below ground level, as shown, a union 13 and elbow 17 being to permit the installation of the pipes 5 and 15 in their desired relationship, as shown, wherein the pipes are maintained in a substantially concentric assembly.

An adapter 18 is mounted on the end of the housing or pipe 15. The adapter forms a closure at the end of the pipe or housing 15 and has a cap or nut 19 on its outer end through which the pipe 5 emerges from the housing, the cap or nut 19 being provided with suitable packing, not shown, to prevent water from leaking from the adapter around the pipe 5. The pipe '5 leads from the adapter to the pump as shown.

It is deemed apparent that the structure above described provides a leak proof chamber surrounding and protecting the pipe 5 throughout that portion of its length which is subject to the effects of contaminating elements.

To make my protection positive, 1 have provided a connection 20 by means of which one end of a pressure line 9 is connected to the adapter and to the chamber 16, the other end of the line 9 being connected either directly to the pump pressure connection 10 as shown in Fig. 1, or to the pressure tank 11, as shown in Fig. 4.

If the pressure line is connected to the pump directly, there must be a second connection 22 on the adapter and a pressure line 23 leading from the adapter to the pressure tank to provide a circuit for the water or air to be pumped into the tank for storage and use. With the connection made as here shown, the water in the chamber 16 is stagnant but under pressure, of course, for it is a dead end chamber. it is deemed apparent that by connecting the pressure line 9 to the chamber 16 adjacent the well casing, water could be made to travel through the chamber 16 before it reached the tank.

The exact pressure line connection arrangement is not critical, of course, for the purpose of connecting the pressure iine to the chamber 16 is to provide a constantly maintained pressure of clean uncontaminated and uncontaminatable water surrounding and protecting the suction line 5 thereby to prevent contamination of the water delivered to the tank 11. With the chamber 16 full of water or air under pressure, the line 5 is thoroughly and efficiently protected against contamination.

The above described method and means for protecting a suction or water delivery line from contamination is simple and effective and fills a long felt need in well water systems, as is deemed apparent.

It is to be noted that in Figs. 2 and 5, a water distributor 24 is provided within the well casing 1 opposite the opening 0 in the fitting 2. The water distributor is provided with an opening 30 on substantially the same plane in the casing as the opening 0, as shown, and on each side of the opening a pair of seals 2627 and 28-29 are mounted. The seals preferably comprise leather cups and are provided to direct water through the distributor and into the line 5, to prevent water from leaking into the casing either above or below the distributor, and to insure the proper operation of the water system.

To accomplish these functions, two of the seals, 26 and 28 on opposite ends of the distributor, face towards each other and may be called pressure seals for they tend to prevent leaks during the periods when a pressure is present in the water line 5. The seals 27 and 29 are on opposite ends of the distributor and face away from each other and may be called suction seals for they tend to prevent leaks during the periods when a suction is present in the water system, as when the pump is operating.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A water system comprising a well casing, a lateral discharge connection on said casing, a pump, a water delivery line connected at one end to the suction side of said pump and at the opposite end to said connection whereby said pump may draw water from said well casing, a pressure line connected to the outlet side of said pump at one end and to a pressure tank at the opposite end, and mean to protect portions of said delivery line from contamination comprising a housing surrounding said portions of said delivery line, one end of said housing being connected to said casing and surrounding the connection of said delivery line to said casing, means sealing the other end of said housing, and a connection from said pressure line to said housing whereby water is maintained under pressure in said housing.

2. A water system comprising a well casing, a lateral discharge connection on said casing, a pump, a water delivery line connected at one end to the suction side of said pump and at the opposite end to said connection whereby said pump may draw water from said casing, a second connection on said casing surrounding said first connection, a housing secured to said connection and surrounding said delivery line, said casing serving as a closure for one end of said housing, said delivery line extending from said housing at its opposite end, an adapter on said opposite end of said housing forming a part thereof to permit said line to emerge and to seal said housing from leaking water, a connection to said housing, and a pressure line connected from the outlet side of said pump to said connection on said housing to supply and maintain water under pressure in said housing to prevent the contamination of said delivery line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 310,841 Moeser Jan. 13, 1885 313,393 Westinghouse Mar. 3, 1885 1,118,299 McNutt Nov. 29, 1914 1,674,341 Penn June 19, 1928 1,981,160 Baldwin Nov. 20, 1934 2,159,179 Ringgenberg May 23, 1939 2,439,673 Roper Apr. 13, 1948 2,608,205 Proctor Aug. 26, 1952 

